Measuring tape reel housing construction



F. J. MORTIMER 2,449,406

MEASURING TAPE REEL HOUSING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 51, 1948 IN VEN TOR. WK 1M r/Mm.

Patented Sept. 14, 1948 MEASURING TAPE REEL HOUSING CONSTRUCTION I :Frank J. Mortimer, Blue Point, N. Y., assignor to Justus Roe & Sons, Patchogue, N. Y.

Application January 31, 1948, Serial No. 5,535

This invention relates to an improved measuring tape reel housing construction and, more particularly, to-a central rotary winding reel for measuring tape housings of the enclosed type.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tape reel having a retractable handle arm pivoted externally thereto and swingable from an operative, extended winding position to a retracted inoperative position of reduced compass.

A further object of the-invention is the provision ofa tape reel of the character indicated wherein the head or handle portion of the handle arm may be received through an aperture in the outer face of said reel to be unobtrusively disposed in the retracted, inoperative position of said handle arm, r 7

Another object of the'invention is the provision of atape reel of the character indicated having'simple and effective yieldable means for releasably retaining the handle portion of the retractable pivoted handle arm in the inoperative position thereof.

An additional objectof the invention is the provision of a tape reel having an axial hub to which the measuring tape may be secured by means of a clamping element or collar, said clamping element or collar serving additionally to releasably retainthe handle portion of the pivoted handle arm; as by means of an integral resilient tongue projecting outwardly for engagement against said handle portion. 4 r

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tape reel of the: character indicated which maybe fabricated easily andinexpensively from a minimum of parts assembled to a unit of rugged construction.

The foregoing objects as well as additional objects and advantages of theinvention will be readily apparent in the course of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a measuring tape housing incorporating the tape winding reel of the invention and showing the foldable handle arm in inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the housing;

Fig, 3 is a perspective view of the tape reel with the ioldable handle arm in extended operative position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l but with a portion of the housing broken away to expose the coiled tape therewithin and with the handle arm in extended operative position;

4 claims. (01. 242-843) Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of theassembled tape reel as seen from inside the housing with the measuring tape partially coiled on the winding flange of the tapereel;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of the assembled tape reel as seen from'the outside of the housing, the handle arm being in extended operative position and the resilient handle-retaining tongue being visible through the aper ture in the outer face of the tape reel;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view, part of the tape housing being broken away, showing the disposition oi the tape reel with respect to the housing.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, the tape reel 10 may be formed in any suitable manner, as by die-casting, and is preferably cylindrical in shape having a circular base I land an annular winding flange 12 formed in such a manner as to define a peripheral mounting flange or lip Ila extending outwardly from said annular flange. An axial hub I3 is formed integrab ly with tape reel In and said hub may be internally threaded in order to mount the reel on the cylindrical housing H. Hub l3 serves additional- 1y for fastening the measuring tape HI to the tape reel III, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

, Tape reel I0 is further provided with a pair of integral bearing recesses l5 communicating with a slot (not shown) extending therelbetween in order to pivotally retain a handle arm 15 rolled over upon itself at one end, as at IT, for the reception of a pivot pin l8. Handle arm 16 may be conveniently pivoted externally of circular base H by swaging the material of the base over the ends of pivot pin I8, as shown at l9 in Fig. 5, or in any other desiredmanner.-

A handle or knob 20 is rotatably mounted adjacent the free end of handle arm I6, said handle preferably terminating in a spherical or bulbous protrusion 20a for a purpose to be indicated. An aperture 2| is formed in base H diametrically opposite the pair of bearing recesses l5 in order to receive the handle '20, thereby allowing the handle arm l6 to be swung from its extended operative position of Figs. 3, 4, 6 and '7 to its retracted inoperative position clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

The measuring tape [4, may be secured to the hub I3 of reel l0 by means of a clamping 'member or collar 22 frictionally engaged about said hub, the free end of said tape being held between the ends of said clamping member as by a grommet or rivet 23.

Tape I4 is extended to be wound externally of annular winding flange l2 through a slot 24 in said flange. A resilient tongue or retaining member 25 is struck from the body of the clampin member 22 and extends outwardly therefrom a sufioient distance to releasably engage the handle or knob 20 of handle arm it; when said han dle or knob is inserted within aperture 2| in the inoperative position .of Fig. 1. As has been previously indicated, handle 20 preferably terminates in a spherical or bulbous protrusion 20a so that said handle will be yieldabiy held by retaining member 25 until it is desired to lift th said winding flange, and a unitary clamping handle and swing arm E6 to its operative, extended position in which position said handle may be easily grasped for manual manipulation of the winding reel l0. 1

It Will thus be noted tha'ta dual purpose is achieved in the reel of the present invention through the agency of a single element. More specifically, clamping member 22 serves not only totretainithe .end' ofimeasurin'g tape [5 but t i-ntegrazlflmesilient: tongue :25 struck from said clamping member serve as a y-ieldable means for retaining theiw-inding. handle 2e and arm it in retractedinoperative position until required for rewinding the. previously extended tape. Inacmalaise; the handle arm 16 may be lifted from retracted zposition 'quite satisfactorily with the finger tip oriflnger nail but, ,if' desired, smalllifting lugs or-proiectors'flfi adjacent handle 2% may beemployed.

certain additional modifications may be madeiginlatheftapereel of the present invention without-departing. from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoingspecificationand shown in the accompanyingdrawing be interpreted merely as illustrative andnot-inalimitingsense.

il cl-aim: r r f A =rotar y-winding reel for measuring tape housings, said tape reel comprising a circular base'-, anannular-windin flange formed integrally with said; base, an arm pivoted externallyof said base adjacent one end thereof; a handle element fixed to the free end of said arm," said circular base' beingapertured for the rece ption of said handle element, in the folded position of said arm, all-integral .:hub extending inwardly of said base-and; cent-rally of said winding flange, and a clamping member fixed to said hub and serving to ,retain theinner end of the measuring tape, said clamping member having integral 'yieldable means projecting outwardly" thereof, whereby to releasably engage said handle element in the folded-position :of said armand to allow manual engagement of said handle element in' the extended position of said arm.

"2; rotary winding reel for measuring tape housings, said tape reel comprising alcircular base,

ably engagesaid handle element in the folded position of said am; and to allow manual engage- 7 member irictionally engaged about said hub and serving to retain the inner end of the measurin tape, said unitary member having yieldable means projecting outwardly thereof, whereby to releasment of said element in the extended position of I said-arm.

3. A rotary winding real for measuring tape housin s; said. t pe r el-- compr s ,acircular base; anan ulairwwinding fl ng fo m d in r 1y i-with e d:-loase,-.an. arm piinoteel externally: of said base-L .acen t eneiendtheneof, a; handle elem nt rotata ly canted adj w t the. fre en of said arm, said ier base b n pe tured fe the reception ref said handle element in the folded posit-ion, zof-gsai'd arm; integral hub extending inwardly of sairiloaseandtcentr l ofsaidwindiaefiane and clampin m m er e a d about said-hub andzserving to retain the inner endof the. measuring tape; said :clam-r emem e h van *ntegraln t-ton u struki r y thereimma hereby to r leasable! e a e said d-le' elem nt imth fioldedrossi-t on of said farm a to allow manual engagement of saldghifi ndleiele ment in the entendedrpcsit n of said ir-my 4.15.'IEQEGJYLWXHWHETfifiI for {measuring-tape housings, rsaidzitap reel eco pri ne a bit-E l r base, an annular-W1 a de se formed integraly: with said base: rm; pi oted externally o said base adjacent one end hereoi, a handle elementrotatably mo nted ad a ent-thence en of sa d .sfieidwnl'liQlllalrxh fifi being-apertured for thezireoention' er: saidhandlea element inxtl e fielded position of arm; 2 7. 1 illfififil u' .831 tending inwardlyof: saidhase and ce tral y oi said-win. f ezflansaz .d ,aiclampizns m m e n: eased about said hubiand serving. to retain the inner -,,end of the measuring. tape, said-clampfmg member having an integral resilient tongue struck outwardly. theneinom; .said handle element termimating. in abulbdus: protrusion yiel-dably'engageable "by" said resilient itongueiwhereby to releasably en a e the bulbous protrusion of said handle element in the folded position ofzsaid arm-and t-oiallow manual engagement of said. bulbous protrusion in the. extended position .of {said am.

"FRANK i1. MORTIMER; 

